ERNIE BOYETTE
Ernie was born to poor parents on a sweet potato farm in Green Cove Springs, Florida. The family raised chickens, rabbits and agriculural foods. The last of seven children, his father died when he was two years old. Growing up, Ernie always helped his mother and encouraged her in her self-taught wildlife painting. When she passed away in 1985, she left him her art supplies and some blank canvasses.
Bored with a job he disliked, he decided to figure out how to paint one night in 1986. He pulled out his mom's "art stuff" and started. Never having an art lesson in life other than what he was taught in public school, Ernie did about ten paintings over the next several years. Trained in marketing, in June 1991, he decided to try art as a business. Convinced he had talent, he swore he would be making his living from his artwork, writing and photography.
Not knowing what he wanted to paint, he liked airplanes and military so he tried that. He started painting one airplane after another. In the spring of 1993, he received his first commission from an F-18 Squadron stationed at Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida. Commander John "Lites" Leenhouts employed him to do a black and white Limited Edition of their squadron aircraft.
In 1994 he started his series "Famous American Aviators". His first prints were his heroes, George Gay and Robert "Bob" Scott. Between January 1991 and December 2000 he painted no less than 150 paintings. From March 1993 to September 2000 he published 42 Limited Edition prints along with 36 poster prints. In the fall of 2002 he was commissioned by Cook Cleland's family to paint all three of the F2G Corsair racers that he flew in the late 1940's at the Ohio Air Races. Cook won the Thompson Trophy in 1947 and 1949. Ernie had worked with Cook in 1997 with a print of the SBD dive-bomber he flew in WWII.
In March of 2003 Ernie was officially knighted as a “Knight of Vision” for his efforts in telling the stories of Great britain's famous aviators. Sir Ernie Hamilton Boyette now signs all his original paintings as Sir Hamilton.
His artwork is now marketed nationwide in aviation museum gift shops including the Smithsonian. In November of 2006 his artwork was selected by the new Pearl Harbor Museum, Hawaii, to be sold in their gift shop. Ernie's artwork has also appeared in the Aviation History magazine and his prints are marketed worldwide.
Ernie Boyette S/N Limited Edition Print "P-51 Tuskegee Airman Lt. Lee A. Archer Jr."
A Limited Edition 12" by 18" Print Signed and numbered by the artist and co-signed by the Tuskegee Mustang Ace, Lee Archer
In December 1942, Acting Sergeant Archer was accepted to Aviation Cadet Training and reported to Tuskegee Army Airfield. On July 28,1943 Archer graduated number one in his class and was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.
Lee Archer was assigned to the 302nd Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group. Lt. Archer flew the P-39 for three to four months in Italy. Their units then received P-47 Thunderbolts. The P-47 was the first aircraft the Tuskegee Airmen flew with the distinctive red tails. They flew the Thunderbolts for a brief time and then received the P-51 Mustangs.
On July 18,1944, the 99th Fighter Squadron officially joined the 332nd Fighter Group. Their first combined mission using all four squadrons was escort for B-24 Bombers. The Tuskegee Airmen had been developing a reputation as the most effective fighter escort group in the Army Air Force. The Red Tailed Mustangs shot down eleven German aircraft that day with a loss of three of their fellow pilots. Archer claimed his first aerial victory. The following day flying on another escort mission, Lee downed another enemy fighter.
On October 12,1944 the 302nd was taking part in strafing attacks on a sweep along the Danube River. Lt. Archer was flying wingman to Captain Wendell Pruitt when they came across a Heinkel 111 bomber. Pruitt shot down the Heinkel. Seven Bf-109’s and two He111’s then attacked their two fighters. In the ensuing air combat of twisting turning aircraft, Archer was able to down three of the enemy fighters making him the first Tuskegee Airmen Ace.
Lee Archer flew 169 missions and is the only confirmed ace of the Tuskegee Airmen with five confirmed aerial victories. Archer was also credited with six enemy aircraft on the ground. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 18 Clusters, the Distinguished Unit Citation and many other service medals. He retired in 1970 as a Lt. Colonel.
All artwork is subject to availability at time of order. Although seller strives to remain currrent as to inventory, seller reserves the right to cancel a sale if item is no longer available at time of purchase.
Not logged in
Login Status